Mice in school upset students, parents

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RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - A CBS 6 Facebook friend contacted the station worried about intruders at her child's school. She wasn’t talking about thugs or drug dealers; rather, she said John Marshall High School is infested with mice.

She even sent pictures taken during the school day. An exterminator said it’s that time of year when rodents begin to move inside to escape colder weather.

Students complained the mice are becoming a distraction during the day. Parent Yvette Dansby told CBS 6 her daughter doesn't want to go to school.

"They're coming out all day long, running across the floor, they’re coming out of computers, they’re coming out of the gym,” Dansby said.

Students snapped two pictures of two dead mice last week on the gymnasium floor

Dansby said a teacher at the school killed one Wednesday.

"Stepped on it like a bug and killed it,” she said.

School officials told CBS 6, by phone, that they are aware of the mice and an exterminator recently responded to the school to set traps and get rid of them.

Pest control experts said it's not surprising this time of year, and added the mice are seeking warmth and looking for food

Parents said it’s unacceptable.

"Get them out of the school it's not a place for them,” said Dansby.

Richmond City Councilman Chris Hilbert said he couldn't agree more. He said he was unaware of the multiple mice sightings until we contacted him.

Hilbert called the school’s principal, who reassured him an exterminator has been on site and set traps.

"We need to get the rodents out of the building regardless of how old it is,” Hilbert said. “It's something that cannot be tolerated, we need to get to it and get to it now. Our kids deserve a safe, clean area and that appears not to be happening, so we need to do better for them and I'll do what I can to make it happen," he added.